Britten: The Turn of the Screw

Benjamin Britten (Composer), Steuart Bedford (Conductor), Phyllis Cannan (Performer), Aldeburgh Festival Ensemble (Orchestra), Eileen Hulse (Performer), Felicity Lott (Performer), Nadine Secunde (Performer), Philip Langridge (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Phyllis Cannan, Eileen Hulse, Felicity Lott, Nadine Secunde, Philip Langridge
• Orchestra: Aldeburgh Festival Ensemble
• Conductor: Steuart Bedford
• Composer: Benjamin Britten
• Audio CD (January 20, 2004)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Naxos
• ASIN: B00009NJ1G
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #174,509 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent and terrific opera, July 7, 2004

By 

Sungu Okan "Can Okan" (Istanbul, Istanbul Turkey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Britten: The Turn of the Screw (Audio CD)

This is one of the greatest operas of Britten, based on a novella, an amazing ghost story of Henry James. The librettos was written by the composer's close friend Myfanwy Piper, who the librettist of "Death in Venice". The libretto is also very impressive, as like the main story.

This recording is really excellent. Actually, this was released on Collins Classics in 1994. The cast is very succesful. Felicity Lott's Governess, Sam Pay's (treble) Miles and of course Philip Langridge's Quint are excellent. And even so, Steuart Bedford is really a champion on performance of Britten's any works.

This recording is only comparable with Britten's own mono recording made in 1950's. This was made with Peter Pears as Quint role. But this Bedford recording, may be better than Britten's recording, because the composer's record is from 50s and mono, but Bedford's is an excellent stereo record made in 1990's.

This opera scored for a small ensemble, as you know. It calls only six singers and a 13-musicians ensemble. And this opera is a really excellent example of the composer's creating how very impressive and spine-chilling atmosphere with a small ensemble.

This 2-CD set also includes full libretto and detailed synopsis. At this price this is a must have for any Britten and opera admirers.

Highly recommended.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better Than the Composer's Own Recording!, May 31, 2004

By 

J Scott Morrison (Middlebury VT, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Britten: The Turn of the Screw (Audio CD)

I didn't think I'd ever say this about a Britten opera recording, but we have here a modern performance that surpasses the one Britten conducted and recorded back in the 1950s. In every respect this is superior to the earlier album, with one exception: no one can surpass Peter Pears as the evil Peter Quint. Of course the part was written for him. This is not to say Philip Langridge doesn't do a wonderful job in his own portrayal; I guess I've been so imprinted on the sound of Pears's voice that I had some trouble making the switch. But the rest of the cast is simply superior to the earlier one. And this is particularly true in the case of the little boy, Miles, sung here by Sam Pay; he is sensational and easily outclasses David Hemmings (a not-very-good boy soprano who then grew up to become an actor in movies; remember him in 'Blowup' and as Mordred in 'Camelot'?). Pay's final 'Peter Quint, you devil!' is heart-breaking. Also superior are Felicity Lott as The Governess, Eileen Hulse as Flora, Phyllis Cannan as Mrs Grose, and Nadine Secunde as Miss Jessel. Further, the modern stereo sound replaces a rather harsh monaural recorded sound from the 1950s. This is particularly welcome as regards the orchestral sound; in the original recording the chamber orchestra sounded a bit thin and distant. Here the Aldeburgh Festival Ensemble is recorded in clear and lifelike sound. As well as I thought I knew the score, I heard new things in the orchestra that I hadn't known were there.

Steuart Bedford, of course, is our reigning Britten specialist. He was a long-time colleague of Britten's, has conducted all of his operas over the years, and was entrusted by the ailing Britten with the première of 'Death in Venice.'

This is actually a reissue by Naxos of a 2CD set first published in 1994 by the now-defunct Collins Classics. I'm sorry to say I missed it when it came out but thank goodness Naxos has seen fit to put it out again, as they did Collins's excellent 'Albert Herring' a year or so ago. It, like the recently reissued 'St. Nicholas' cantata, was also conducted by Bedford. One can hope that Bedford's other Collins/Britten CDs, including 'Gloriana,' orchestral music and several song recitals, will be reissued as well.

Scott Morrison

2 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A must for hard core britten fans, August 1, 2005

By 

Robert Baksa "composer" (new york state) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Britten: The Turn of the Screw (Audio CD)

The concept of basing each scene of this chamber opera on a set of variations is a fascinating one. But its basically an intellectual excercise. This is one of Britten's most sterile scores. He wrote it quickly and it shows. The piece, based on a famous tale, works in the theater so it has held the stage. The cast of this recording is a group of top notch professionals so it is satisfying on that level. Just don't expect to be swept up in it like one can be with "Peter Grimes."